Murray on course for a record fourth Queen’s title

Top-seeded Andy Murray stayed on course for a record-tying fourth title at Queen’s Club by defeating Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.

Murray is attempting to join John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt as a four-time winner, and broke Verdasco for the second time to claim the first set.

Verdasco wasted four break points in Murray’s first two service games in the second set, but the Spaniard was broken again in the final game when he hit a backhand wide on Murray’s second match point.

Earlier, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov lost 6-4, 7-6 to Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.

The sixth-seeded Bulgarian won the title last year by defeating Feliciano Lopez, but has failed to reach a final since.

He was bidding to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career.

”I don’t think I’m playing bad tennis at the moment,” Dimitrov said.

”I just am doing a lot of good things on the court which really don’t discourage me to play. Of course, it’s a tough loss for me, but I give credit to Gilles. He played a good match.”